Syrian refugees speak at Milton High forum

The forum was put on by students from the Milton High School Amnesty Club and co-sponsored by Milton for Peace.

Zane Razzaq The Patriot Ledger

Ali Aljundi, a Syrian refugee and project officer with Oxfam America, urged the U.S. “not to slam the door on Syrian refugees” while speaking to Milton community members Monday night.

Aljundi had been invited by the Milton High School Amnesty Club for a forum titled “Syrian Refugee Crisis.” The local group Milton for Peace co-sponsored the forum. Aljundi and another Syrian refugee, who asked not to be identified, spoke to an audience of over 100 people.

“We felt that this was a really pressing issue,” said Domenic Jancaterino, 17 of Milton and co-president of the Amnesty Club. He, and other members of the club, felt that the issue was not getting the attention it deserved in the media.

Jancaterino also said it was crucial for Milton and the state to understand the Syrian refugee crisis.

“We live in a privileged state in the U.S.,” he said. “It’s important we acknowledge international issues.”

Aljundi came to the U.S. from Syria in August 2012, attending graduate school at Brandeis University. He now lives in Waltham with his wife and two sons.

During his speech, Aljundi spoke about how, before the Syrian civil war broke out, Syria was a “generous host refugee country.” Syria had historically welcomed refugees from around the world, including Armenia, Iraq, and the Palestinian territories, he said.

“Syria was the only country to allow Palestinian refugees full rights,” Aljundi said. According to the BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, Palestinian refugees in Syria were afforded almost all the same rights as Syrian nationals, beside the right to vote and the right to citizenship.

Aljundi also discussed Syrian refugee children, which he said are “the most effected group.” He discussed how language barriers can cause difficulties for children.

“My brother lived in Turkey for one year, with his children,” he said. “Because his children do not speak Turkish, they were out of school for one year.”

Towards the end of his speech, Aljundi discussed some of the work that Oxfam America does for Syrian refugees. It includes water sanitation, implementing programs inside Syria, and helping with job opportunities. He said that banning Syrian refugees is “not how we solve this problem.”

“The U.S. has a strong screening process,” he said. “It takes three years to go through the process, and it includes applications, background checks, interviews with multi-agencies... this is the worst refugee crisis since the second World War. The U.S. should help because this is a human rights violation issue and the United States is considered the leader of the free world.”